Permutation lock



. March 18 i924.

J. PFEIFER PERMUTATION LOCK Filed Dec. s, 1921 A nvlh ...m a ma# a .ma

53H sya ,Z423 b fzz/z Kms Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

UNET TA'EES PATENT ermee.

JOHN PFEIFER, OF SPBNG-FIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPRINGFIELD'AUTO LOCK i COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A, CORPORATON F OHIO.

PERMUTATION LOCK.

Application led 'December 5, 1921.

To @ZZ 'fo/mm t may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOHN Plannen, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Springield, in thercounty of Clark and State oll Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Permutation Locks, ot which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to permutation locks, it particularly relating to improvements upon the locking device described in my pending application No. 397,938 tiled July 21, 1920.

n object or my .invention is to provide means tor preventing unauthorized unlocking ot the mechanism by persons without knowledge ot the proper combination.

il further object oi' my invention is to provide a mechanism or" the character referred to which will be simple in its construction and effective for the purpose tor which it is designed. y

ln the accompanying drawings Fig. 1k is a front elevation of a look embodying the improvements, showing the parts in locking position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in unlocked position.

lTig. is a top plan view of one of the locking elements.

Fig. 4- is a vertical sectional View of several ot the locking elements in assembled position.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the locking bolt and devices carried thereby which cooperate with the locking elements to insure the unauthorized unlocking ot the bolt, these devices being shown in their inoperative position.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing the devices carried thereby in their operative position.

Fig. 7 is a partial section showing the devices carried .thereby in their inoperative position or in the same position in which they are shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the entire mechanism showing the parts in lock- .in g" position.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of; the devices carried on the bolt.

Fig. 10 is a view of the lower end ot the bolt. The loch .herein described 1s one which has been particularly devised for the pur-- Serial No. 520,098.

pose of locking certain parts of an automobile such as the steering wheel or the gear shifting lever, the particular manner of applying the lock for the purpose of locking the steering wheel being described in my pending application referred to and another' installation of the lock for the purpose of locking the shifting lever being described in an application tiled Dec. 5, 1921, Ser. No. 520,099.' The locking mechanism is carried by two supporting brackets or ears 1` and 2, which are a part of any suitable form of supporting member which will enable the mechanism to be applied to the part to be locked. A locking bolt 3 is slidably mounted in aligned apertures 1a and 2a in said ears with the locking devices therefor assembled about the bolt between the ears. These locking devices consist of a series of outer sleeves 4, three in number in the present case, each provided with an inner ring 5. Each sleeve has equally spaced indications from O to 9l and between each indication is a vertical groove 6, which cooperates with spring lingers (not shown in the present case) to hold the sleeves in their adjusted positions and to act as clickers. Each sleeve has an integrally formed inner flange 7 at its lower end upon which its rings rests and'projecting up from each oi' these flanges is a pin 8 which may be received in any one of a series oit outer vertically-arranged notches 9 in its correspondingV ring to provide means for changing the combination. In the two upper sleeves this flange projects below the lower edge thereof as shown in Figs. l and 8, so asto telescope withthe adjacent sleeve. Each of the rings :is :fitted to the interior of its corresponding sleeve 4- resting upon the ilange 7 and in the upper sleeve the ring is of a length equal to the distance between the upper end of the sleeve and its Hange but in the intermediate and lower sleeves the ringis shorter so as to accommodate the flange of the sleeve immediately above it.

Then the rings are assembled in the sleeves, a small indication 10 as shown in Fig. 3 is caused to register with that indication upon the sleeve which represents the number of the desired combination. For instance, the combination at which the mechanism is set in the drawings is OOO so that this mark 10 in each of the rings will be placed opposite the indications O of ythe sleeves. The pin 8, therefore, locks the inner rings in fixed relation with the respective sleeves so far as revoluble movement is concerned.

Each ring 5 has diametrically opposite the indication l a vertically extending interior slot 1l. The extreme upper portion ot the upper ring is formed with an enlarged bore as indicated at a so that the upper edge thereof may stand ilush with the upper edge ot its sleeve, so that when the sleeves and rings are in an assembled position between the ear, they will be held against any vertical displacement; this construction leaving the groored portion of said upper ring ot the same size as that of the other' two rings for a purpose to be explained.

The locking bolt 3 is provided with a series ot aligned projections l2, in the presentv case tour innumber, and also at theV upper and lower ends with ribs 13 andV 14 in alignment with 'the projections, Each ot' the ears has a vertical slot l5 and 16 in the wall of the aperture therethrough, these slots being aligned. The distance between the ribs and adjacent projections and also between the projections is slightly greater than the width of the intermediate and lower rings and of the grooved portion of the upper ring. lWhen the parts are in assembled position and the grooves ll ot the respective rings in alignment with each other, and also with the ribs and projections ot the bolt, the bolt may be moved to or trom locking position. To lool; the bolt the sleeves and their rings are turned to bring` the grooves ll oit the rings out ot the path ot the projections on the bolt and to unlock the bolt it is then necessary to turn the sleeves back to that point which again aligns the grooves in the rings with cach Y other and with the projections and ribs, the

points to which these sleeves are turned. being determined by the combination. "he bolt has at each endV a stop xl7 and i8, one ot which i7 is removable. and when the bolt is in its extreme upper or .lower position as determined ly these stops, the intermediate and lowerV rings and the grooved portion ot the upper ring will be in alignment with the space between the projections and ribs of the bolts, so that the sleeves and their rings can be turned about the bolt tor the purpose ot unlocking or locking Vilhile the construction shown in my pending application referred to has much merit and is ordinarily7 effective tor the purpose tor which it is designed, yet it has developed that some persons expert in looling mechanism ot tais character have been able to unlock the mechanism of that application by manipulating the bolt in snch a fashion as to locate the grooves in the rings for the reason-that the bolt necessarily has more or less inherent play through the rings and ears and when moved up and down the projections on the bolt come in contact with the upper and lower ends ot the rings, thus enabling the slots ll to be located by persons having an uncommonly tine sense of touch. lt was to prevent such manipulation ot the mechanism that the so called tooler notches were placed in the rings in the pending application referred to and while, as before stated,y these were eti" vet it has ben found desirable to eliminate practically all danger ot the lochr being so manipulated by persons expert in such mechanism, to accomplish which l have devised the following arrangement:

rllhe holt 'l has a longitudinally extending channel. 19 and rotatably mounted in this channel is a shaft 2O cut away to torni two eccentric pins 2l and a central flattened face 20"; the shaft being held in the channel by a curved retaining linger 20a. Vlllxtending trom points in line with the projections on the bolt to points which communicate with the channel is a series ot apertures 22 which receive a series ot pins 2S projecting from a trame bar 24.-, each end ot whi h has a hook-shaped projection 25 which e1 bi `ces the eccentric pins 2l. As the shatt is rocked in one direction7 which it may be by the pin 25, on the lower end thereoit, the vtace 20", coming in contact vith the edge ot the bar 2l, projects the pins 23 from the aperturcsv` and when the shait is rocked in the opposite direction, the eccentric pins, through the projections withdraws the pins 23, for the purpose to be explained. Projecting from the shaft is a pin which when rotated to the position 5, lies in a recess 28 ot the bolt so as to clear the lower Vear 2 as the bolt is moved to or from locking position. ll-.Theu the bolt has been pushed to complete lockinyi;- position, as `hewn in S rotation ot the shaft 20 projects the pin 27 to a position to bring the ear 2 in its path, the pin being so positioned on the bolt that any pla-y ot the bolt downwardly atter it has been locked will be limited by the pin; while an;v loose play of the bolt in upward direction is limited by the stop pin lr. The pins thus serre to liniit the loo,Je play of the bolt to an extent which will prevent any of the projections oi the bolt trom coming in contact with the interlocking r i and thereby prevent an)rv such n'ianipulation ot the bolt as would enable a person to locate the grooves in these rings After the loosing bolt has been pushed to its locking position, before the sleeves lcan be rotated to destroy the combination and lock the bolt,v it is necessary to rock the shaft 2O to bring the nin 27 in proper operative relation with the ear 2 for the reason that the small pins 23 act as a bar against shown in loo fdivision walls between the same.

1am/ice rotation of the sleeves as shown in Fig. 6, until the shaft has been rocked to withdraw the pins to the position shown in Fig. 7. The sleeves now having been turned to lock the mechanism, it will be impossible to again rock the shaft tor the reason that any attempt to do so will be resisted by the pins 28 coming in contact with inner walls ot the rings so that it willtheretore be necessary to lirst unlock the mechanism by rotating the sleeves back to the proper combination be'tore the shaft can be rocked to place the pin 27 in the recess 28. ln order that there will be no danger ot' a person expert in such matters being able to locate the grooves l1 of the rings by manipulating the shalt and thereby feeling for those grooves with the lingers 28, l have placed in each of the rings 5 a series of vertically extending shallow grooves 29, unequally spaced, which grooves will permit a slight rotation o't the shaft 2O limited by the contact of the ends ot the fingers 28 with the walls oit the shallow grooves 29, or with the in this connection it should be explained that the tlat face 20" or' the shaft 20, coming in contact with the edge ot the bar 2li at an angle thereto, for the purpose of pressing the bar and its pins 23 to the position just referred to, will not have the effect of causing the ends of the fingers 28 to make Contact with the4 walls of the rings 5 with any considerable torce, as would be the case it a more direct pressure was placed upon the bar 2e, with the result that there will be no such amount of frictional engagement between the ends ot the lingers 23 and the rings as would enable a person, by slightly rotating the rings within the limits allowed, to detect whether or not the pins were making contact with the walls ot the rings or were coinciding with the deep grooves ll.

The operation of the devices is as ollows lVith the parts shown in unlocking po` sition as indicated in Fig. 2, with the pin 27 lying in the recess 28, the bolt may be pushed to the locking position shown in Fig. l and the shaft 2O then rocked to the left so as to move the pin 27 to the position indicated in Fig. 8, in which position the pin acts as a stop against downward movement of the bolt by coming in contact with the upper side of the ear 2. Any upward movement of the bolt is limited by the contact of the pin 18 with the lower side ot the ear. These pins 18 and 27 are so positioned that very little loose play of the bolt will be permitted, and whatever loose play there is will not be sufficient to allow the projections l2 to come into contact with the rings 5 so that it will be impossible to locate the grooves 11 by this method. When the locking boltis pushed. to locking position, the pins 23 will be positioned .as shown iii Fig. 6, but as they are aligned with the projections l2 they will be permitted to pass :treely through the grooves ll. lli/'hen the shaft 20, however, is rocked to the position shown in Figs. l and 8, these pins 28 are withdrawn to the kposition shown in Figv. rllhe sleeves il now having been turned to lock 'he bolt it will be seen that any attempt to rock the shafty derstood in this connection that there are provided twenty ot the notches 9 in each ring so that the combinations'inay be set on halt numbers it desired. To unlock the mechanism the sleeves are rotated to the proper combination, the shaft 2O rocked to the right to bring the ear 2 out of the path ot' the pin 27, and the bolt then slid downwardly to unlocking position.

Having thus described my invention, l claim l. in a permutation locking mechanism, a non-rotatable locking member movable in the direction ot its length, locking devices for said member, said member having more or less inherent loose motion, when locked, with relation to said locking devices, and means tor confining the loose play of said locking member, when in its locked position, within limits which will prevent the locking devices from being contacted thereby, tor the purpose specified.

2. ln a permutation locking mechanism, a non-rotatable bolt, locking devices for said bolt, said bolt being movable relatively to said devices and when locked thereby and having more or less inherent loose play in the direction oit its length with respect thereto, and means for confining tie loose play of said bolt within llimits which will prevent the locking devices from being contacted thereby, for the purpose specified.

3. fn a permutation locking mechanism, a non-rotatable slidable vboit having projections, locking devices rotatable about said bolt and having grooves to permit the passage therethrough ot said projections, said bolt having more or less inherent loose play in the direction oi? its length when locked by said devices, and means i'or confining the play of said bolt within limits which will prevent the projections from making contact with said grooved locking devices.

4l. ln permutation lockinginechanism, a non-rotatable slidable bolt having projectllt) tions f less inherent loose ploy its length when in leche devicesV rotatable abone (grooves to pers progections, e. on scid bolt to hir its plev in one d e second ,movable stop on mit its y plexi/oi: seid bolt 'from lockingr nosition, said lest-mentioned moons Iii-ing` cepeble ot bepleced in opere-tive position aiiter the bolt hes been placed in locking; position and beingl entirely independent oi seid locking` devices.

6. ln a. permutation locking; mechanism` e nonsrotetsble lengthwise movable bolt, locking devices for seid bolt, said bolt hevingzf fin inherent loose ploy in the direction otite length With relation to seid locking devices when in looked position, stationery part through Which seid `iolt sildes, and stops carried by said bolt cooperating With seid stationery port to limit the loose ploy thereof, one oi said stops being movable to operative position sfter seid bolt has been placed locking'v position.

7. l'n pern'iutstion lockingmechanism, a lengthwise movable bolt, lookin devices 'for seid bolt. seid bolt having` en inherent loose ploy in the direction oit its length with relation to locking devices when in locked position, a stationery port through which seid bolt slides, end stops carriedL by seid bolt cooperst/ing with seid etionery part to limit the loose play thereof, one of seid stops being` movable to opere-tive positi n otter seid bolt has been placed in locking'position, end ine-ons Wherebv seid movl^ stop is looked its operative position e b v snid loosing; dev'ces when seid devices are movedL to lockingl position.

ln e permutation locking mechanism,

o lengthwise movable loolinglbolt, locking levices for seid Vbolt comprising e. rotatable ring having o groove, e stop on seid bolt .to limit its movement 'from locking posi- `tion, and locking devices tor seid stop c0- opereting-wvith the inner well oi seid ring to lock the stop in its operative position and cooperating with the groove in said ring to permit unlocking of the stop 9. ln s permutation locking mechanism, s lengtnv-fise movable locking bolt, look-ing s or seid bolt comprising e rotatable o. groove, e stop on said bolt movement 'from locking positioni and locking devices for seid stop c0- opei'st'eg With/the inner Well of said ring C t unlocking or the stop, the

..ll o3? seid r1 hevinp; e plurality ses oi ssor h than said groove.

le ern'intetion locking mechanism,

. .LH Q

having projections, locking` devices boltl having grooves to permit the lpressage of projections, a stationary port through which seid. bolt is movable, seid bolt lis-ving more or less inherent loose ploy, e stop carried by seid bolt to coopera-te with seid stationery port to limit the loose plev seid bolt, 1n one direction, together with mee for limiting` its play in the opposite C. non, ngers movable with the stop ano. coooereting with the locking devices to locl seid stop in its operative position and cooperating; with the grooves to permit snif. top to be thrown to inoperative position. Y Y

1L ln permutation locking mechanism,

i stable loclninp,` devices surroundd holt and having grooves, projections d bolt capable of passing; through said grooves `when aligned to permit seid bolt to be moved to and from` locking position, and being' locked bj7 seid devices when seid grooves ere thrown out-ot eligninentj seid bolt having more or less inherent loose play through seid looking devices when in locked position, e shaft eerried'by said bolt, e projection'on seid shaft, s lined part through which bolt projects, seid projection when seid is rocked cooperating With said tired pert to limit the loose play of seid boltin one direction, one or more tingers slidobly mounted in seid bolt and operatively connected with seid shaft end cooperating with the Wells of seid locking devices to prevent seid shaft from being rotated to bringseid projection out of oooperative relation with said fixed port until seid lgrooves have been aligned.

12, ln a permutation locking` mechanism, s, movable locking member, locking devices Yfor seid member including rotatable parts, seid member having more or less inherent loose motion with relation to seid locking devices, means 'for conininfz the loose play of seid locking devices includingI o rotetable having en inclined fece, a. ber cooperatingg` with said inclined tace, and pins on seid'bsr cooperating with seid rotatable parts to retein said shaft.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this il'th dey of November 1921.

' JQHN PFFXFER:

stoi in its ooerotive nos't' Y ,c i. o l ,i ion oeroude with tne groove in said 

